Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-09-09

Patton to return. About EAlf-past 8
O'Clock heard the ga.!op of horses. and
was reay to welcome rly partner, but
before they bad come in sight the widow
| sTrang up in great terror, and cried
"Oh, sir, they are the Indians who
have been on my trail! Don't let them
take NE away! Let me hide In the
wagon"
Sin with you quick, and they will
have to kill me before they lay hands on
you," replied, and she disappeared be-
meath the cover with astonishing CELEBRITY.
The gallop came nearer and nearer,
and presently a voice hailed me:
1.-The camp thar-helle!"
"Who is it?'
Friends
| "Come in.
With that a half breed and Kickapoo
came riding into camp on horses which
had neither saddle nor blanket. Both
men looked savage and sullen, and were
well armed The half breed could speak
very good English, and when he had
come to a halt and looked around, he
said:
1--WE are after the woman who came
her horse over there.
by what authority do you demand
her?'
None of your business. We have
come for her, and we mean to have her. "
do you mean that you will take her
by force?'
Il do; and let me give you a piece of
advice. | see you are tenderfoot.
Don't put on too many airs in this coun-
try. It's a great place to have ones
wings cropped in hurry. Don't at
tempt any foolishness with us, or you'll
never know what hurt you"
had my Winchester in hand and two
revolvers in my belt. Had I been a hot
tempered man, there would have been
some shooting before he had concluded
his bombastic speech. l am slow to
anger, especially when human life may
pay the forfeit, and heard him through
without being rolled. The woman was
hidden away in the wagon, and had not
revealed her presence to them by word
or move.
IF the woman chooses to go with you,
well and good, l answered, as / looked
the fellow over by the light of the camp
fire. If she does not you cannot take
her.
"Oh we can't, eh? You crow pretty
loud for spring chicken. Well, ask the
wench to make choice
The wagon was about ten PAGES from
the fire, and in the shadow, although not
so much SO that could not see it pretty
plainly. I had made a step toward it
when l saw a black object under the
wheels, and, supposing it to be a wolf,
raised my gun and took snap shot,
caring only to send bullet near enough
to drive it away. The object disappeared
with the echoes Of the report and as
walked along to the wagon the two men,
who had not dismounted accompanied
me. Standing within five feet of the
vehicle l called to the woman and asked
if she desired to go with the men, and
she replied:
"Oh sir, save me from them, even if
you have to shoot me-"
But you've got to comet shouted
the halfbreed.
"She shall not go!' shouted at him.
i give you two villains sixty seconds in
which to leave camp. Now go!'
They were close together, and my rifle
covered both. They looked straight at
me for fifteen or twenty seconds, and
then turned and rode away in the dark
ness. / followed them for 100 yards,
when they urged their horses to a galop,
and rode to the north without looking
back. / stood and looked after them
until could no longer hear the beat of
their horses hoofs, and l felt rather
proud of my nerve in driving them
away. 1t did not occur to me until next
day that either or both of them could
, have got the drop on me up to the time
raised my rifle, and that while they
. were making threats of what they would
do they left their rifles lying across their
, saddles They simply permitted me to
force them out of camp at the muzzle of
, my Winchester, and that was a part of
, their plan. When ! returned to the fire
the woman was beside it, her face betray-
, ing fear and distress, and as soon as
, came up she clasped her hands and tear
r fully exclaimed:
, "Oh, you will not let them take me
. away-you will notl'
, assured her that they had been driven
| off, and that she was safe, and her graft,
| tude was unbounded. 1t was now 1C
2 o'clock and after, and Patton had not YET
| returned 1t was useless to expect him
| until morning, and set about preparing
r the camp for the night. AS there was q
5 strong probability that the two mer
g driven off would secure reinforcement.
and return during the night l tied the
horse TO the wagon, told the woman that
she could occupy the vehicle, and pre-
a pared TO spend the night on guard. She
seemed to oppose this latter arrangement
: doubling if the men would return, anC
/ declaring it was a sacrifice on my par
/ she could not accept. bundled her int
! the wagon, however, promising that
r might catch a nap at or O'Clock il
all was quiet, and by and by let the fire
Y go down and took my circle around the
r camp with cat like step. A few coyotes
, and wolves came about, but nothing
r seemed to disturb me, and the hour
Q passed away until 3 O'Clock. By thai
}, time l was very tired and sleepy.
g., l.. 4.